Sports

Peyton Manning schools defenders in practice with deception

Quarterback Peyton Manning joins the other passers at the start of practice. The Denver Broncos football team gets in their final day of practice during training camp at Dove Valley in Centennial on Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

The Broncos face the Houston Texans on Saturday in a dress rehearsal for the season opener Sept. 7, and given the tension in their scrimmages, a food or flag fight could break out.

Overshadowed by the chippy nature of the joint practices was the free education provided by Manning. The Broncos reigning NFL MVP provides a graduate course in communications and strategic planning.

"He's making me better. He doesn't even know some of the things he's teaching me in practice," said safety T.J. Ward, who joined the Broncos this spring as a free agent. "It's just such great preparation for a game having to go against him every day. You learn so much."

Manning's eyes are his chalkboard, where lessons begin. It wasn't too long ago that quarterbacks stared at targets as if they were long-lost high school sweethearts. Deception now prevails. Even on quick routes, Manning lies to defenders. Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, who played with the New England Patriots last season, called Manning the toughest he's ever gone up against in practice.

"(The Patriots') Tom (Brady) was great, too. Defensively, Peyton gives you a workout," Talib said. "He uses his eyes to take you out of the play.

"You have to be careful."

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Watch Manning on film, and there are traces of mortal behavior, solutions to slowing him down. But he has evolved since his first record-breaking season in 2004. He threw downfield more often with the Indianapolis Colts, relying more on his arm than his receivers. He gets rid of the ball quickly in the Broncos' offense. According to ESPN research, Manning threw 373 passes for 5 yards or fewer last season, and 49 of his 55 touchdown featured a pass within two seconds of the snap.

It's like the NFL's version of "Jeopardy." A lot of people can answer the game show questions, but few can hit the buzzer correctly in one second.

"He's going to challenge you in every facet of the defense. He runs up-tempo offense, and you have to be smart in your disguises and be in the right place at all times," Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph said. "Because a guy like him, he can pick up where you kind of have a letdown in coverage. He tends to find those open holes and open windows."

Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas smirks when talking about Manning's precision. Numerous times over the past two seasons, he's caught a pass and heard complaints before cheers.

Cornerback Chris Harris explained that Manning's precision teaches discipline and fundamentals. Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, Manning lined up in the shotgun with C.J. Anderson flanked to his left. On the snap, Anderson ran toward the linebacker. He took the bait, leaving Julius Thomas wide open as safety Craig Dahl waved his arms helplessly.

Quarterbacks are paid to trick defenders. Manning preys on those who stray off the script.

"You learn you have to have great technique to really make a good play on Peyton's passes. You have to be in great position," said Harris, who remains on track to play in the season opener against the Colts and could practice without limitations next week. "You can't have bad eyes or false technique with Peyton."

Poor ears might actually help though. Manning gives dummy calls at the line of scrimmage. There's an audible in there somewhere, but his willingness to take the play clock under six seconds ties the defense's hands. Defenders have no chance if they bite on the wrong oral cues.

"It's helping a lot going against him," Texans linebacker Brian Cushing said. "There's a lot of different stuff he can do. He has a million checks and a million different looks. He's a great player. You have to try to match as best as you can."

Manning will see his final preseason action Saturday. He will stand under center. He might as well be behind a podium wearing wire-rim glasses.

"I think any time you have a chance to defensively go against a Hall of Fame quarterback, a guy that runs the operation at the line of scrimmage, a guy that recognizes things easily, that's always going to help your defense — whether it's disguising better or understanding their keys and things they're looking for," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "Anytime you go against a guy the caliber of Peyton Manning, that's going to help you learn."